94 Issue #6

(I'm super busy this morning so I might end up forgetting to post this later. So I'm just gonna post it now.)

"So I'm guessing this is not about the raise request I put in," Jacen said while closing the door behind him.

"Sadly no, Jack. This is about an assault that we believe you performed on Tony Stark," Xavier said from behind his desk

Jack nodded before walking forward and greeting Natasha. The pair kissed each other cheeks before taking turns kissing the other's forehead and ending it with a hug.

"Been a while, Nat. You miss me yet?" Jack asked with a smile

"Of course. You kept things so much more interesting. That's actually why I came. I figure that your interrogation/interview will be so much more interesting than a normal one," Natasha admitted openly her purpose

She wasn't there to pursue what he did or to support either side. She just had a free day and felt like watching a show.

Jack nodded in understanding. Since Nat didn't really want to be a part of it, he turned his attention to the others in the room.

Jack took a seat on the side of the room to create a bit of distance between himself and the others. It made it hard to talk to 3 people at once if one was sitting in front of him and the others were on each of his sides.

"So... Lieutenant America, Greenjacket. How can I help you?" Jack asked with a straight face

Natasha snorted when she heard him rename the pair. She had expected a show but wasn't ready for it to start so soon.

Steve shot Natasha a small glare before looking back at Jack.

"Jack. I don't think that is appropriate. You wouldn't have talked that way to me before, after all," Steve tried to reason

But when he heard this, Jack nearly burst out laughing. It took all he had to hold it back.

"I'm sorry, Sergent America but that was because we were friends, you were my boss, and I had respect for you. All of those are currently lacking a bit because of the actions, or would inactions be better, of you."

When he heard Jack's words, Steve couldn't come up with a response. He knew that he had messed up that day from the way that most of the Avengers left. The fact that he had ruined the friendship and respect he had with Jack only made sense.

But Hank didn't see it that way.

"Listen here, you little...!"

"I'm sorry but anyone who has been made a cuckold has no right to speak in front of me. Sorry, Hank. I don't make the rules but just follow them," Jack interrupted

"Oh, damn!" Natasha said quietly from the side while trying to hold back her laughter

"You! Motherfucker!" Hank yelled

"I'm pretty sure she wasn't pregnant when we did it."

Hank saw red. He was ready to charge over and attempt to break both of Jack's legs but before he could, Steve was already holding him back.

"Enough, Hank. He is goading you on," Steve warned, "And, Jack. That is enough. We came here with questions and would like some answers."

"You want to confirm that I was the one who attacked Tony, correct? Well, if that is all you came for, the answer is yes. He was drunk driving in something that was equivalent to 100 fully loaded tanks. I had to ensure public safety."

Hearing him admit it so easily, the other 4 in the room were stunned. They had expected it to be a verbal duel with threats being made from both sides until Jack would reluctantly admit it.

But after Natasha thought about it for a few seconds, this way definitely suited Jack better. He was never one to shirk responsibility.

After recovering, Steve immediately began to scold Jack like he would one of his subordinates.

"You still should have reported it to someone instead of taking it into your own hands! Your methods were too harsh as well! What if you killed him?! You need to know...

"Shut up!" Jack yelled in frustration. He might have had to accept the scolding and discipline if he was still part of the Avengers but he wasn't. He was a grown man who had been through literal Limbo and waged wars himself. He was no child that needed to be scolded by an adult.

"I warned you about his drunken flights earlier that day. You all still let him leave. What happened to him is not on my hands but yours. So if that is all I was called in here for, I'm just gonna head back to bed with my beautiful fiancee."

"Oh. The playboy got engaged? Who's the lucky gal?" Natasha asked

"Emma Frost. I'll make sure to send you an invitation to the wedding next year," Jack smiled at Natasha and promised her

"Good. Make sure you give me two +1's. I might wanna take after you and have a few boy toys wrapped around my fingers."

Jack laughed at this. Natasha could have armies of men on their knees and call her their queen if she truly wanted to.

When the Professor and Steve didn't say anything else, Jack waved at Natasha before leaving them all alone in the room.

Since the show was over, Natasha dragged the stunned Steve and enraged Hank out of the room before bringing them both back to the Quinjet, only to discover that it was currently burning on the institute's lawn.

Several of the teens that lived there were trying to put the fire out, but the jet was burning wildly.

Seeing that the Quinjet was on fire, Natasha didn't even blink. Instead, she picked up her communicator and called in for another jet.

'50% of the time. No matter what mission or job we take them out to do, they end up being destroyed 50% of the time.'